The Bloodhound. 19 



This is, of course, exceptional, but, with a proper 

 course of training during three or four generations, 

 there is no reason to doubt that bloodhounds would 

 be able to reliably make out the trail of a man who 

 had gone three or four hours previously. 



That hounds will ever be got to track a criminal, 

 or anyone else, on the cold, damp flags continually 

 passed over by pedestrians, as in the streets of 

 London and other large towns, no one who under- 

 stands them will believe. Such work they never have 

 done, and never will do ; nor do the owners them- 

 selves aspire to such excellence for their favourites. 

 In country districts they may be of aid, but in towns, 

 so far as appearances are at present, the apprehension 

 of criminals must be left to the mental sagacity of 

 the official biped. 



Bloodhounds might be of use in smelling out any 

 secreted article or a man in hiding. 



In May, 1893, the dead body of a murdered child 

 was discovered by means of Mr. Markland's well- 

 known bloodhound Dainty. The inhabitants of the 

 locality round about, had been horror stricken by 

 what was known as the Wilmslow tragedy, and one 

 of the missing victims could not for a long time be 

 discovered. The hound we mention being brought to 

 the place by the police, hunted about, went into the 

 kitchen of the house where the tragedy had taken 



C 2 



